AUTOMATION EDITING: LOCK IT DOWN

One of the most frequently overlooked features of the Arrangement view is the Lock Envelopes switch:

When activated, this switch locks automation to the timeline, instead of to the clip. With this switch enabled, you can make a copy of a clip…

…without copying it’s automation.

…or delete\replace a clip while leaving the automation in tact.

You’ll also sometimes come across buggy plug-ins that randomly generate automation for certain parameters whenever you move a clip. To work around this problem, turn the Lock Envelopes switch on before copying or moving the clip. Then, manually copy the automation to the clip in it’s new location.